Rockford Apartment Fire Sparked By Unattended Stove

Over 20 firefighters battled an apartment fire on Rockford's southside early Monday morning, which was reportedly caused by an unattended stove.

Cooking Incident Sparks Fast-Moving Fire

A cooking mishap ended up causing a destructive apartment fire at 1211 21st Place in Rockford, where investigators say a man was heating oil on the stove when he decided to leave the residence to go and walk his dog.

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Forgetting that the appliance was on, the man left the stove unattended, and when he returned from his leisurely stroll, the kitchen of his first-floor apartment unit was engulfed in flames.

He quickly exited the building as neighbors called for help, according to the report.

Flames Spread Through Structure

Firefighters with the Rockford Fire Department arrived within three minutes and encountered heavy smoke and near-zero visibility.

Crews advanced a hose line to attack the main fire, but flames had already gotten inside the walls and were spreading to the second-floor apartment.

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A second hose line was deployed to the upper level, which was confirmed to be a vacant unit, allowing fire crews to locate and extinguish hidden fire burning through walls and flooring.

Fire Ruled Accidental, Resident Displaced

The fire was ultimately deemed accidental by the Rockford Fire Department, but damage is estimated at approximately $60,000.

Working smoke detectors were present and credited with helping prevent injuries and death. No occupants or firefighters were harmed.

One resident and his dog were displaced and received assistance from the American Red Cross. A total of 22 firefighters responded to bring the blaze under control.